Graphene may cool electronic component hot spots
A layer of graphene may reduce hotspot temperatures inside a processor by up to 25%, according to researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden.
"This discovery opens the door to increased functionality and continues to push the boundaries when it comes to miniaturising electronics," said Professor Johan Liu.
With many electronic components 'running hot', cooling is an important design element. A rule of thumb quoted by the researchers is that a 10°C increase in working temperature halves the working life of an electronics system.
"The normal working temperature in the hotspots we have cooled with a graphene layer has ranged from 55 to 115°C," said Prof Liu. "We have been able to reduce this by up to 13°."
Potential applications for the technology include automotive electronics, power electronics, computers, radio base stations and in various LED systems.